3 - Chapter 2
“Well, as I said when Sun Li noticed your injury, she had to check you to ensure you were human and nothing else had taken over the body.” said Ja Son. “She felt that you were not a commoner. She decided to proceed with a deeper scan. Then when she tried to soul scan you, your soul forced her out.”
“Please understand it was from a place of caution, you had already passed out, so she could not get proper permission beforehand. Obviously such a deep scan is most improper to conduct on a person of your station.” continued Ja Son. “She, and the sect take full responsibility for that decision.”
“Please continue with the rest of what happened.” said Sabina a touch coldly. “We can determine responsibility at the end of the tale”
Even Ja Son looked uncertain now. Nevertheless he continued the tale. “So Sun Li kept you unconscious and brought you to the sect offices in the city. She asked me to come and examine you to ensure you were not a high level demon or demonic cultivator. I completed the scan and found your soul even resisting my efforts to scan it. I used a divine sect treasure to check your soul and spirit root. You have a perfect spirit root and a protected soul. You must be from one of the royal families. I apologise for overstepping my authority.”
Sabina kept her composure, barely, she was very angry. They had knocked her out and kidnapped her, then tried to invade her soul, something they were not allowed to do, then just tried to apologise.
Yes they had saved her, and brought her to the city and dressed her, but that didn't make her feel any happier with the violation.
On the positive side, she had a spirit root and they didn't find any problem with her soul, so she was probably safe anywhere and free to step into the life of Sa Bina. That was probably the intention of who or what ever had sent her here. She felt she should have been more suspicious of how well the situation had been set up, but wherever she thought of who had sent her here, she just felt like she could trust them. Anyway, she had no way to look into that at present, so she decided to ignore it for now.
Just as she was thinking through the implications, her stomach let out a low gurgle. She realised she had not eaten or drank anything for at least a day if not longer. Noticing the sound Sun Li hurried out of the room and returned with a servant carrying a tray of food.
The servant set the dishes on the table, then offered Sabina a bowl and chopsticks. Sabina gratefully accepted the bowl and began to pick and choose from the variety of dishes on the table.
As she ate, she looked at Ja Son and motioned for him to continue with the chopsticks.
“Can you tell us anything about where you are from or who you are, my lady?” asked Ja Son. “Our land is vast and if we have to send letters to all the noble families to ask, it could take years to get answers.”
“I don't remember anything before I woke up under that cart. What am I to do while we wait for these replies, or if there is no reply?” asked Sabina in between dainty bites.”Obviously I won't be content sitting waiting on others to decide my fate.”
“Besides you haven't explained why you think I am a noble, or what led you to feel like I wasn't a commoner in the first place.” asked Sabina, getting a little irritated with how they were still not telling her everything.
“Well it started with how you spoke to us.” said Sun Li.
“I was polite and followed your instructions.” replied Sabina.
“Yes, most commoners are too scared to even speak in the presence of a cultivator. Then you managed to survive the head injury and were mostly lucid. You managed to stop my QI scan, then through me out of your soul scan while unconscious. Further you are extremely well spoken, and seem to be educated, something most commoners are not. You even manages to dress yourself alone. It was obvious that you are not a commoner.” stated Sun Li.
Ah my western modern ideals make me seem like a noble. So in this society the commoners must really be scared of both nobles and cultivators. Sabina continued to eat whilst she thought through the implications of what she had heard.
“And of course the final point is that you are enjoying your food.” said Sun Li skirming now.
“Why wouldn't I enjoy the food, it's well made and the flavour is wonderful.” asked a confused Sabina.
“Most commoners can't afford and have never tasted spices. Even more affluent merchants don't use a lot of spice as their palate is just nor used to it. It's mostly cultivators and nobles who enjoy spiced food.” answered Ja Son.
“But this is not even spicy, it's just mild.” said Sabina.
“Exactly,” said Ja Son.
She finally realised that her western lifestyle really equated to a noble outlook. Add to that her attitude of treating everyone like her students, her spirit root and her soul strength and she would never be able to convince anyone she wasn't a noble.
“Ok, that doesn't answer my other questions. 1, What happens to me if no royal family claims me. What happens if someone accuses me of not being a noble? And more importantly 2, what do I do in the meantime. How do I support myself?” asked Sabina.
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“Well, if no one claims you, you would still be a noble without lands. You may join another family or if you get strong enough take over a kingdom. Sun Li and the sect will make amends for our behaviour. We will provide you with housing and a stipend.” continued Jason. “At 13 a noble would either join a finishing school, if they are to be married off, or join the preparatory school if they wish to rule or cultivate. If by 17 your family has not been found, you can look at joining a sect.” said Ja Son. “ We don't recommend starting to cultivate until 17, though some families start as early as 15. Usually the dantian is too weak to support proper cultivation before that age.”
“So I am basically in your care. What limitations or rules am I to be subject to?” asked a curious Sabina. She would really have to start thinking of herself as Sa Bina now. It would take conscious effort.
“None, until you join the sect, the sect will not direct your actions.” replied Ja Son. “However, until you are of age, at 17, we would request that you consider any actions that reflect negatively on the sect.”
“That seems reasonable. So what kind of housing and stipend are you offering? Actually what is the currency here and what is the value?” asked Sa Bina.
The cultivator raised a brow in surprise at the question, but answered anyway. “We have the standard, copper, silver, gold and platinum system for commoners. 5 to 10 copper would get you a good meal depending on where. A silver a night would be the cost of a good inn including all meals. Cultivators use spirit stones, they can be cultivated as well as used as currency. A grade 1 stone is the equivalent of 10 gold. Each grade is 100 times the previous grade in value, but in actuality costs a little more as it's easier to carry 1 grade 3 stone rather than 10,000 grade 1s.” said Ja Son, after a little thought he continued, “ Mortal currency is also 100 for each from copper to silver to gold to platinum.”
“Ok, easy enough to understand. So what are you offering and for what period?” asked Sa Bina. Now that she had decided to accept their offer, she wanted to see what she could get out of them. She was still not happy with how they had taken advantage of her. She felt if she were a commoner, they wouldn't even have worried if she survived. It was only the potential wrath of a non existent family that gave her any leverage. She needed to use it to become independent as soon as possible.
“Well as compensation for my actions I would like to offer you a grade 3 spirit stone,” said Sun Li. “I will also check in on you from time to time.”
So around 100,000 gold thought Sa Bina. She looked at Ja Son.
“We would offer you a sect token so that you can call on aid from the sect. We would also provide you with a house, with appropriate staff. Of course you may hire your own staff if you wish. We would also offer you a stipend of a grade 3 spirit stone a year. We would expect you to manage your own household and finances. Given your age we would provide you with a stipend for 10 years.”
Sa Bina thought of the offer, she decided to push a little more. You don't get to that age without learning how to haggle and be shameless.
“Well I think you should revise the offer slightly. First I would like a storage ring or similar of a suitable size.” said Sa Bina, taking a literal stab in the dark on it. “I think you should just give me 1 grade 4 spirit stone and not an annual stipend. I will take a house, as long as it's suitable, however I would like the ownership transferred to me. Also your help in securing a bank account with a reputable bank. Finally, I may decide to procure some business ventures, so the sect will help me negotiate and procure businesses, at my cost of course.”
Sun Li was shocked at the counter offer. While Ja Son’s offer hadn't been overly generous it was still more than they gave inner disciples. Sa Bina’s demand was more along the lines of what an outer elder was paid. Moreover, a storage ring was worth more than a grade 4 spirit stone!
Sa Bina wasn't sure how far she could push the sect, but felt they had not been generous enough. Ja Son was still treating her like a child. She decided to leverage that fact to her advantage.
“That is an expensive ask my lady.” said Ja Son, trying to get her to reduce her demands. He would have to explain the expenses to the sect patriarch.
“I think I am still being generous given how I have been treated. If you are unable to agree, perhaps I should wait for the patriarch,” mused Sa Bina, “when will he be back?”
Ja Son grimaced internally. If this girl's family ever came forward, the sect would have to give face and would end up paying even more in compensation, that was not even including the cost of sending couriers all over the land trying to contact the various royal families.He decided to increase the pressure on the girl thinking she would want her family located.
“I have a counter offer for you my lady. I will agree to give you a storage ring, 10 tier 4 spirit stones and a house near the preparatory school. The Sect will offer you a token, help you with a bank account, and help you procure businesses at your expense.” said Ja Son, “However the cost and effort of locating your family will be at your expense.”
“Given how large you have told me the land is, I think you are woefully underselling the cost of the couriers. I am assuming at least some will need to be cultivators?”retorted Sa Bina. “I thought you were here to deal in good faith Ja Son. Why am I feeling like you are trying to take advantage of me?”
Ja Son sighed, this girl really was much too shrewd at her age. “Fine, the cost of the courier will be between 30 and 60 tier 4 stones. I will offer you the same deal at 55 tier 4 stones.” replied Ja Son.
“I think we have a deal at 60 Ja Son,” replied Sa Bina.
Ja Son just nodded to Sa Bina. He turned to Sun Li. “Please arrange to take Sa Bina to the sect to get her registered for the ID. Then make arrangements for the bank account and the house. I will let them know to release the funds and the ring at the same time." Turning to Sa Bina he said, “Be well my lady, by your leave.” With that he stood up and at a nod from Sa Bina departed.
Sa Bina was very happy with how the negotiations had gone. She didn't need to contact any royal families. She would send some pretend letters so no one thought she wasn't looking. It would give her a solid start in this world.
“So, I haven't even asked, where are we and how long would it take to travel to the sect and the city with the school?” asked Sa Bina.
“We are in a small town called Orange Grove. We are around 2 days from the capital city. The sect is based a few hours from the capital. The capital is called Emerald City. We can leave once you are refreshed. It's still early in the day. We should make it by tomorrow night if we leave within a bell and push through.” replied Sun Li.
“Will we be travelling through the night?” asked Sa Bina.
“No, we will stop at a small village on the way. Also my soldiers and I will escort you to ensure no mishaps on route.” answered Han Ji.
“That is much appreciated. Give me half a bell to eat and use the facilities.” said Sa Bina.
Sun Li and Han Ji left to prepare for travel as Sa Bina enjoyed her first meal in the new world.